Amusement ride with a vehicle track portion following the shape of a helix

ABSTRACT

A closed loop amusement ride wherein a passenger vehicle travels over a pair of tracks having a portion where each track follows the same helical shape with respect to a common substantially horizontal axis, thereby providing unique sensations to the passenger due to the complex and changing forces acting upon the passenger.

[ 1 June 17,1975

United States Patent 1191 Bacon 1 1 AMUSEMENT RIDE WITH A VEHICLE TRACK PORTION FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF A HELIX [75] Inventor: Karl W. Bacon, Mountain View,

Calif.

I 258,126 9/1926 United Kingdom...,...1.4 ..1..... 104/57 [73] Ass1gnee: Arrow Development Co., Inc.,

Mountam View Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. [22] Filed: Feb. 19, I974 Assistant ExaminerRandolph A. Reese Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Limbach, Limbach & Sutton [21] Appl. No.: 443,814

[57] ABSTRACT A closed loop amusement ride wherein a passenger vehicle travels over a pair of tracks having a portion where each track follows the same helical shape with respect to a common substantially horizontal axis, thereby providing unique sensations to the passenger w w4 3 R 2 26 nfin 1 ,8 M0 74 .32% bwmro l 54 M m 6 4 O 564 I0 20 5 M3 65 m5 1 5 HM% H W m4 1 0 u "6 U "4 mm Tm "r 1 5 WW I C I 0 s .m 8 U .mF N HT 5 55 I II due to the complex and changing forces acting upon the passenger.

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 301,871 7/1884 Drisko 104 124 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 AMUSEMENT RIDE WITH A VEHICLE TRACK PORTION FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF A HELIX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to amusement rides and more specifically to those amusement rides wherein passenger carrying vehicles are guided along an endless track.

Amusement rides of the roller-coaster variety are very popular. Customarily, the rides involve a vehicle or train of vehicles joined together which ride along a pair of parallel tracks that descend and ascend rapidly to develop various forces on the rider, resulting in thrilling sensations. Certain variations are occasionally employed to increase the thrill of the ride. One of these variations is a loop wherein the vehicle turns upside down. Pertinent disclosures of a ride with a loop may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 609,164 Prescott (1898), 812,595 Roberts (I906), 1,44l,404 Czerny (I923), 2,567,438 McBride (l95l), and 3,411,783 Montagna (I968). Another variation is disclosed in US Pat. No. 750,246 Beecher I904) wherein a single rail closed looped ride is disclosed having a portion of that track shaped as a helix with this axis oriented vertically.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide such an amusement ride which provides a thrill to the passengers which is much different from those obtained in prior amusement rides of this type.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a complex shaped rail amusement ride of improved construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, a vehicle guiding structure of the present invention is shaped to guide a passenger vehicle through a complex path in the nature of an airplane roll in at least a portion of the ride. The vehicle is given a significant component of forward motion combined with concurrent rotation of the vehicle in a substantially circular path about an axis of the ride extending in the direction of the forward motion. This axis is substantially horizontal.

Such vehicle motion is accomplished according to one aspect of the present invention by a section of a pair of vehicle guiding tracks that follow a helix with a pitch angle in excess of forty degrees, this angle gradually increasing at either end of the helical portion to provide the transitional track section going into and out of the helical section. Each of the tracks follows the same helical path, one track being axially displaced from the other a small distance to form a required space between the tracks to support the vehicle thereon. A specific track structure described in detail hereinafter is in the form of a cylindrical helix.

The resultant force that is exerted on a passenger riding through such a vehicle guiding section is complex with its various components rapidly changing, thereby providing an increased thrill to the rider. The rotation of the vehicle about a substantially horizontal axis provides centrifugal force which maintains a significent net positive force of the passenger against a seat of the vehicle. Simultaneously with the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the vehicle, there is a substantial component of velocity in a forward direction that is parallel with the substantially horizontal axis.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I illustrates generally an overall closed loop amusement ride utilizing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and more detailed view ofa portion of the ride of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the ride of FIG.

FIG. 3A shows the parameters of a helix;

FIG. 4 is a view of the tracks in FIG. 3 taken across section 44 thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a specific structure for implementing the track path illustrated in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIG. I, a closed loop amusement ride is generally illustrated. A plurality of passenger cars 11 coupled together in the form of a train ride on a pair of endless tracks 13 and 15. A passenger loading station 17 may be located near the lowest point of the closed loop vehicle track. A steep upgrade portion 19 is provided for mechanically elevating a train from the passenger loading station 17 to a location 21 which is the highest point of the ride. As is standard practice, a train of passenger cars is moved up the steep incline portion 19 by a mechanical driving system (not shown) and then released. The train is moved by gravity throughout the rest of the ride until it returns to the passenger loading station 17 where it is stopped. The train is initially accelerated to a high speed by its descent along a track portion 23.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 3, the track 13 begins a helically shaped section at a point 25 and ends the helical shape at about a position 27. Similarly, the track 15 enters a helically shaped portion at about a location 29 while ending the helically shaped portion at about a position 31. A transition section 33 of the two tracks, exists adjoining the forward end of the helic shaped track segments where the train 11 will be traveling its fastest. Similarly, a transition section 35 of the two tracks exists adjoining the opposite end of the helix shaped track portions. The transition sections 33 and 35 provide a smooth entrance and exit for the vehicles into and out of the helix path track segments so that a passenger is not subjected to abrupt uncomfortable jolts. The helix shaped track sections are symmetrical about an imaginary axis 37. The axis 37 is substantially horizontal, preferably with a slight downward slope to aid in maintaining the speed of the train 11 as it passes therethrough. This slope and the height of the track portion 21 relative to the elevation of the helix track segments are calculated to maintain a minimum speed of the train 11 through the helix portion at a level to maintain a significant centrifugal force of the train cars against the tracks.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, the helical segment of the track I3 between the points 25 and 27 is exactly the same shape as the helical segment of the track I5 between the points 29 and 31. Both of these track segments follow the path of a cylindrical helix and are displaced from one another a fixed distance in a direction along the axis 37. The distance of any point of one of these tracks in its helical segment is a distance r from the axis 37. It is also possible to vary the helical track sections from the cylindrical type shown to a conical helix.

A pitch t (FIG. 3) of the helical track segments is made to be greater than forty degrees in order to im part a substantial forward component of velocity to the passenger train passing through the helical track section. By definition, a pitch of a helix is the angle between its tangent at a point and a line or plane that is perpendicular to the axis 37 of the helix. The pitch t is illustrated in plane view for one point of the track 15 within its helical section in FIG. 3. A maximum pitch for such an amusement ride is about 70. By mathematical definition of a helix, the pitch is the same for each point along the helix. For the application of this ride, however, there may be some degree of variation of the pitch angle in the helical section of the ride without substantially affecting the sensation to the passengers.

The helical sections illustrated in the figures are about one and one-half cycles long. A cycle of a helix occurs from a reference point when the helix moves in a circle back to that reference point in a projection on a plane normal to its axis. The transition sections 33 and 35 to the helical track segments have slopes (from which the helical pitch is measured) that increases in angle in the transition section as the distance increases away from the helical segment. For instance, an imaginary reference helix trace line 39 is shown in FIG. 3 in the exit transition section 35. The trace 39 is an extension of the helical segment of the track 13 which ended at the position 27. It can be seen that the track 13 in the transition section 35 has an increasing pitch angle as the distance from the position 27 increases. The same is true for the entrance transition section 33 as illustrated in FIG. 3 with reference to a trace 41 that is an extension of the helical segment of the track 15.

The pitch of the track may also be expressed as an angle of the slope (tangent) of the track with respect to the axis 37 in a plane formed by the tangent and the axis. Such a lead angle a is a maximum of 50 in the preferred embodiment described herein (90 less a maximum pitch of 40). The angle of the slope of the track sections in the transitional segments 33 and 35 with respect to the axis 37 becomes smaller as the distance from the helical sections increases.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the nature of a helix as utilized in the present amusement ride embodiment is described in yet another way. Consider one cycle of the track 31 which is shown in FIG. 3A on a surface of an imaginary cylinder 30. If the cylinder 30 is rolled one revolution upwards across FIG. 3A over a plane surface. the points of contact ofthe helix 31 with the plane forms a straight line 31: a line 32 may be similarly formed by an end of the cylinder 30. The line 32 has a length equal to the circumference of the cylinder 30. A line 34 formed in the plane surface perpendicular to the line 32 forms a right triangle. The hypotenuse is the line 31' which forms the pitch angle 1 with the line 32 and the lead angle a with the line 34.

Referring primarily to FIG. 5, details of a specific track construction may be observed. The FIG. view is a portion of the helical track section described previously with respect to FIG. 3. The view of FIG. 5 addi tionally shows the supporting structure for the tracks 13 and in this region. The supporting structure includes a support rail 43 that may travel throughout the length of the ride. The support rail 43 is itself supported by appropriate structures anchored to the ground such as a post 45. Brackets are periodically placed along the length of the support tube 43 to hold the tracks 13 and 15 thereto. Referring to FIG. 5, a bracket 47 is anchored to an outside surface til the rail i3 and is removed a distance therefrom before extending across to the support rail 43. A similar bracket 49 holds the track 15 with respect to the support rail 43. This bracket structure permits a train ofcars to be utilized, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein wheels are provided to ride on opposite sides of the rail to keep the cars from falling off of the track while inverted in case the speed thereof is reduced to a low level by some malfunction. Additional wheels (not shown) are provided attached to the underside of each car and ride on the inside of the tracks to guide the cars therealong.

The shape in space followed by the support rail 43 in the helical shaped track section is also a helix having the same pitch as the tracks 13 and 15 in the helical section illustrated in FIG. 3, However, the cylindrical helical path followed by the support rail 43 has a radius that is larger than the radius r of the helical paths followed by the tracks 13 and 15 to be anchored by means (such as the brackets 47 and 49) in a manner to provide an unobstructed space along the tracks that per mits the vehicles to depend downward below the level of the tracks for a low center of gravity with respect to the tracks.

Each of the cars of the train 11, such as a lead car 51 and the next car in the train 53 (FIG. 2) are made to have as low a center of gravity as possible. Each of the cars bottom structure depends downward into the space between the tracks 13 and 15 which is made free by the way that tracks are held to the supporting rail 43. This lowers the position of the passengers with respect to the rails. Each ofthe cars contains on each side three wheels for contacting a single track. In the lead car 51, a pair of wheels 55 and 57 at the front end thereof are designed for supporting the car in normal circumstances on the track. For safety, a wheel 59 is also attached in this cluster of wheels to support the car should forces accidently develop that tend to remove the car from the tracks. The rear of the lead car 51 is supported by a similar wheel arrangement on the front of the next car 53 that is attached behind the lead car 51. By clustering the wheels in this manner and sharing support from one car to another. the center of gravity is permitted to be made low with respect to the tracks 13 and 15.

In a particular structure illustrated in the drawings, each of the tracks 13 and 15 is preferably constructed of a hollow rigid metal tubing having a circular shape in cross-section. A similar cross-sectional shape is provided in the supporting rail 43, except that perhaps the support rail 43 is larger in dimensions for added strength. The use of circular cross-sectional material for the rails 13 and 15 and th". support rail 43 permits this formation into the various shapes discussed above without concern over orientation of a flat surface in any particular manner.

It can be seen that the ride illustrated with respect to the drawings provides a number of independently acting force components applied to a passenger riding in a car of the train when traveling over the helically shaped track portions. Because of the large pitch angle. there is a substantial feeling to the passenger of forward motion throughout the helical portion. A centrifugal force is also developed as the car is twisted about the axis 37 of the helical track segments. In addition to this, a longitudinal axis of the car extending from its front to its rear is rapidly changing direction with respect to the ground. Such a vehicle axis is generally parallel to the tangents of the helical track segment over which the vehicle travels. Due to the rotation about the axis 37, each car is also rotating about its own such axis.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a specific example thereof, it will be understood that the invention is entitled to protection within the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement ride including a passenger carrying vehicle and means including a pair of tracks fixed with respect to the ground for carrying and guiding said vehicle over a predetermined path, said tracks comprising a portion wherein each track of said pair of tracks follows a path in space substantially conforming to a helix in shape with a common substantially horizontal axis, said helix shape extending a length sufficient for at least one full cycle and having a pitch that is greater than forty degrees. said two tracks of said pair of tracks being of the same helix shape but shifted an axial distance from one another.

2. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said same helix shape is a cylindrical helix with a constant radius with respect to said common axis.

3. The amusement ride according to claim 1 which additionally comprises transition track portions adjacent both ends of said helix track portion, said transitional portions having a gradually increasing pitch at increasing distances from said helix portion.

4. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said passenger carrying vehicle comprises a plurality of individual cars coupled together into a train, one of immediately adjacent coupled cars of said train carrying common wheels therebetween.

5. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes means for riding on inside surfaces of said tracks through the helix shaped portion, whereby a passenger therein is turned upside down, and further wherein said ride comprises means for propelling said at least one vehicle through said guiding means portion with a sufficient velocity to maintain a net force of said vehicle outwardly against said tracks, whereby a passenger in the vehicle is also given an outward force toward said tracks.

6. An amusement ride structure having at least a portion of its length which comprises:

a first track suspended in space with a fixed relationship to ground and following the path of a helix having a substantially horizontal axis, said helix having a given pitch throughout said portion that is greater than 40, and

a second track suspended in space with a fixed relationship to ground and following the same helical shape about said axis as does said first track, said second track being shifted a fixed distance along said axis from said first track.

7. The amusement ride according to claim 6 wherein said helix has a constant radius with respect to said axis throughout said structure portion, whereby said helix is a cylindrical helix.

8. The amusement ride according to claim 7 which additionally comprises a supporting structure following a helical shape and sharing said helical track common axis, said supporting structure having a greater radius than said first and second tracks and positioned adjacent thereto with supporting brackets connecting the tracks to the supporting structure, said supporting structure being anchored to the ground.

9. The amusement ride according to claim 8 wherein each of said first and second tracks is a rigid round shape in cross-section, said supporting brackets being firmly attached periodically along their length from said helically shaped supporting structure to a surface portion of each track that is furtherest removed from the other track.

10. An amusement ride according to claim 6 which additionally comprises similarly shaped tracks smoothly joining said helically shaped portion of the first and second tracks at either end thereof, said segments having a gradually increasing pitch as a function of distance away from said first and second track helical portion.

11. An amusement ride, comprising:

a closed loop track system fixed with respect to ground and including two continuous tracks with a fixed spacing between them throughout the loop, said track system including a portion having:

a first track suspended in space and substantially following the path of a cylindrical helix of at least one full cycle, said helix having a substantially horizontal axis and a given pitch throughout greater than 40, and

a second track suspended in space and following the same helical shape about said axis as does said first track, said second track being shifted a fixed distance along said axis from said first track at all points along said helix,

at least one vehicle having means including wheels on its bottom spaced for carrying said vehicle along said tracks throughout the closed loop system with the vehicle bottom spanning said tracks substantially parallel to straight lines extending therebetween, said vehicle additionally having at least one passenger carrying seat positioned to maintain a passenger in an upright sitting position with respect to the bottom of the vehicle, said vehicle positioned on said tracks in a manner to ride inside the helix formed by said track position, and

means for propelling said at least one vehicle through said helical track portion with a sufficient velocity to maintain a net force of a passenger that is positioned in said seat against the seat at least throughout the helical portion of the track system.

12. The amusement ride according to claim 11 which additionally comprises along said helical track portion: an elongated rigid support member following the shape of a cylindrical helix with its axis superimposed on that of said helix track portions, a radius of the support member helical path being greater than the radius of said first and second helically shaped tracks, said support member additionally being placed intermediate of said helical track portions,

means rigidly connected to said support member for holding said member fixed to the ground, and

a plurality of brackets spaced along the elongated support member, each of said brackets rigidly con meeting said first and second tracks to said elongated member, thereby suspending said first and second tracks from said support member. 

1. An amusement ride including a passenger carrying vehicle and means including a pair of tracks fixed with respect to the ground for carrying and guiding said vehicle over a predetermined path, said tracks comprising a portion wherein each track of said pair of tracks follows a path in space substantiAlly conforming to a helix in shape with a common substantially horizontal axis, said helix shape extending a length sufficient for at least one full cycle and having a pitch that is greater than forty degrees, said two tracks of said pair of tracks being of the same helix shape but shifted an axial distance from one another.
 2. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said same helix shape is a cylindrical helix with a constant radius with respect to said common axis.
 3. The amusement ride according to claim 1 which additionally comprises transition track portions adjacent both ends of said helix track portion, said transitional portions having a gradually increasing pitch at increasing distances from said helix portion.
 4. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said passenger carrying vehicle comprises a plurality of individual cars coupled together into a train, one of immediately adjacent coupled cars of said train carrying common wheels therebetween.
 5. The amusement ride according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes means for riding on inside surfaces of said tracks through the helix shaped portion, whereby a passenger therein is turned upside down, and further wherein said ride comprises means for propelling said at least one vehicle through said guiding means portion with a sufficient velocity to maintain a net force of said vehicle outwardly against said tracks, whereby a passenger in the vehicle is also given an outward force toward said tracks.
 6. An amusement ride structure having at least a portion of its length which comprises: a first track suspended in space with a fixed relationship to ground and following the path of a helix having a substantially horizontal axis, said helix having a given pitch throughout said portion that is greater than 40*, and a second track suspended in space with a fixed relationship to ground and following the same helical shape about said axis as does said first track, said second track being shifted a fixed distance along said axis from said first track.
 7. The amusement ride according to claim 6 wherein said helix has a constant radius with respect to said axis throughout said structure portion, whereby said helix is a cylindrical helix.
 8. The amusement ride according to claim 7 which additionally comprises a supporting structure following a helical shape and sharing said helical track common axis, said supporting structure having a greater radius than said first and second tracks and positioned adjacent thereto with supporting brackets connecting the tracks to the supporting structure, said supporting structure being anchored to the ground.
 9. The amusement ride according to claim 8 wherein each of said first and second tracks is a rigid round shape in cross-section, said supporting brackets being firmly attached periodically along their length from said helically shaped supporting structure to a surface portion of each track that is furtherest removed from the other track.
 10. An amusement ride according to claim 6 which additionally comprises similarly shaped tracks smoothly joining said helically shaped portion of the first and second tracks at either end thereof, said segments having a gradually increasing pitch as a function of distance away from said first and second track helical portion.
 11. An amusement ride, comprising: a closed loop track system fixed with respect to ground and including two continuous tracks with a fixed spacing between them throughout the loop, said track system including a portion having: a first track suspended in space and substantially following the path of a cylindrical helix of at least one full cycle, said helix having a substantially horizontal axis and a given pitch throughout greater than 40*, and a second track suspended in space and following the same helical shape about said axis as does said first track, said second track being shifted a fixed distance along said aXis from said first track at all points along said helix, at least one vehicle having means including wheels on its bottom spaced for carrying said vehicle along said tracks throughout the closed loop system with the vehicle bottom spanning said tracks substantially parallel to straight lines extending therebetween, said vehicle additionally having at least one passenger carrying seat positioned to maintain a passenger in an upright sitting position with respect to the bottom of the vehicle, said vehicle positioned on said tracks in a manner to ride inside the helix formed by said track position, and means for propelling said at least one vehicle through said helical track portion with a sufficient velocity to maintain a net force of a passenger that is positioned in said seat against the seat at least throughout the helical portion of the track system.
 12. The amusement ride according to claim 11 which additionally comprises along said helical track portion: an elongated rigid support member following the shape of a cylindrical helix with its axis superimposed on that of said helix track portions, a radius of the support member helical path being greater than the radius of said first and second helically shaped tracks, said support member additionally being placed intermediate of said helical track portions, means rigidly connected to said support member for holding said member fixed to the ground, and a plurality of brackets spaced along the elongated support member, each of said brackets rigidly connecting said first and second tracks to said elongated member, thereby suspending said first and second tracks from said support member. 